ᓇᔅᑲᐱ ᐅᑭᒪᓂᑯᒥᒄ ᑲᐛᐛᒋᑲᒪᒡ

THE NASKAPI NATION OF KAWAWACHIKAMACH

ᐃᔪᒡ

Community

Kawawachikamach

Near a winding lake

The Naskapi Nation spans approximately 16 square miles of Category IA-N land and covers about 40 acres, providing ample opportunities for growth in residential, commercial, or industrial areas.

Most residents of Kawawachikamach are Naskapi, with Naskapi being the primary language spoken and written by many community members. English serves as a secondary language, and some residents also speak French.

The Naskapi people maintain many elements of their traditional lifestyle and culture. Similar to other northern communities, they depend on subsistence hunting, fishing, and trapping for much of their food and raw materials, with harvesting being central to their spirituality.

Kawawachikamach is connected to Schefferville by a gravel-surfaced all-season road. Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. offers weekly rail services between Schefferville, Wabush, Labrador City, and Sept-Îles, transporting both passengers and freight, including large vehicles, gasoline, fuel oil, and refrigerated goods.

Schefferville Airport features a 5,000-foot paved runway and provides year-round service five days a week to destinations to the south.

Location

Jimmy Sandy Memorial School and the James Chescappio Learning Centre are located on the Naskapi territory of Kawawachikamach, approximately 15km away from Schefferville, Québec. As a remote, northern community, there are no roads connecting Kawawachikamach to the rest of the province. Traveling to and from the community can happen by either train or plane. The train known as the Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. connects Schefferville to Sept-Iles and runs once or twice a week depending on the demands at the time. There is also Air Inuit, which flies to various northern communities, including Schefferville a several times a week. Depending on the day, the plane arrives from Montreal, Quebec, or Sept-Iles.

Culture - NASKAPI NATION OF KAWAWACHIKAMACH (NNK) The People of the Caribou

The Caribou

In the past, the Naskapi were a nomadic people who followed caribou herds across Nuchimiyuschiiy for thousands of years. The migration patterns of the caribou dictated their movements. For the Naskapi, the caribou is central to their identity, providing food, clothing, shelter, ceremonial practices, and tools—everything is interconnected with the caribou.

However, as the caribou population has dwindled, they no longer pass through the area as they once did. As a result, the younger generation has had little exposure to the traditional teachings surrounding the caribou. Despite this, the Naskapi Nation strives to ensure that their children still have the opportunity to walk with the caribou.

Language

The Naskapi language (also known as ᐃᔪᐤ ᐃᔨᒧᐅᓐ/Iyuw Iyimuun in the Naskapi language) is spoken by the Naskapi people in Quebec and Labrador, Canada. It’s written in the Eastern Cree syllabics.

The term “Naskapi” is mostly used to describe the language of the people who live in the interior of Quebec and Labrador, in or around Kawawachikamach, Quebec. Naskapi is a special “y-dialect” that has lots of things in common with the Northern dialect of East Cree. It also has a lot in common with the Innu language.

Even though Naskapi and Innu are very closely related, Naskapi remains its own unique language. It’s different from all the other languages in the Quebec-Labrador area.

Basic Naskapi Commands

Naskapi

Roman letters

English

ᒋᓂᑐᐛᔨᒥᓐ ᐊᒐᒋ ᐎᒋᔨᑕᓐ?

Chi-wi-mi-chi-shu-n ah?

Do you want eat?

ᐛᒋᔭ

wachiya

Hello - Goodbye

ᓂᑎᓯᓂᐧᑲᓱᓐ

___ Ni-ti-shi-ni-hka-shuu-n

____ is my name.

ᐊᑯᑕ

akuta

Bye

ᒋᓂᔅᑯᒥᑎᓐ

Chi-nis-ku-ma-ti-n

Thank you (one person).

ᒋᓂᔅᑯᒥᑎᓇᐤ

Chi-nis-ku-ma-ti-w

Thank you (more than one person).

ᓂᒥᐃᔽᔨᑕᓐ

Ni- mi-ywaa-yi-taan

I am happy.

ᒥᔽᓱᐤ

miywaasuw

It is nice.

ᒋᒋᐛᒥᔽᓱᐤ

Chi-chi-waa-miy-ywa-shu

It is very nice.

ᒋᒥᔽᐃᑕᑯᓯᓐ

Chi-mi-waay-ta-ku-shi-n

You are nice.

ᒋᒥᔽᐃᑕᑯᓯᒻᓄᐤ

Chi-mi-waay-ta-ku-shi-now

You are very nice.

ᒋᓯᐛᔨᓐ ᐊ?

Chi-shi-wa-yin ah?

Are you hungry?

ᒋᐎᒥᒋᓱᓇ ᐊ?

Chi-wi-mi-chi-shu-n ah?

Do you want to eat?

ᓇᓇᒐ ᒋᑭ ᐛᐱᒪᑎᓐ

Na-na-cha-chi-ki-wa-pi-ma

I will see you later.

ᐸᐱ

a-pih

Sit down

ᐃᔨᒥᑕ

i-yi-miih-ta

Read it

Experience the essence of the Naskapi culture firsthand. Contact the Jimmy Sandy Memorial School to learn more about our community and educational initiatives.

Join us in celebrating our heritage and supporting our journey towards cultural preservation and growth